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David Koch, funder of conservative causes, dies at 79

David Koch and his brother Charles are best known for donating to conservative and libertarian causes. Critics say the Koch brothers have rolled back environmental regulations and labor rights.

Billionaire David Koch, a major donor to conservative causes, has died, Koch Industries announced on Friday. He was 79.

David and his brother Charles co-owned Koch Industries, a Kansas-based chemicals and manufacturing company. David stepped down as executive vice president of Koch Industries last year due to health issues.

The brothers tied for 11th place on Forbes' list of the richest people in the world.

The Koch brothers are best known for funneling millions of dollars into conservative, free market and libertarian causes and political candidates. However, David was socially liberal. He supported same-sex marriage, abortion rights and criminal justice reform as well as a non-interventionist foreign policy.

Critics say the Koch brothers have lobbied government to remove environmental regulations and weaken labor unions.

The brothers founded the non-profit Americans for Prosperity, which has bundled nearly $1 billion (€900 million) in donations over several elections to support small government, low taxes and other conservative causes.

Americans for Prosperity has at times been at odds with the Republican Party under President Donald Trump.